Youth Access Worker - headspace Canberra

Grand Pacific Health Ltd; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 48,000 - 62,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Ongoing professional development and 1

Salary packaging up to $15,900 + $2,65

GPH Staff Conference

Employer paid parental leave on top of

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Grand Pacific Health Ltd. is seeking a Youth Access Worker for headspace Canberra on a temporary part-time basis. The role focuses on intake, brief phone screeners, triage, referrals, and follow-up to support young people with their mental health and wellbeing.

The position may involve short-term counselling, care coordination, psychoeducation, group activities and outreach, with flexible work arrangements and ongoing professional development within a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Qualifications or working towards qualifications in youth work, social work, mental health, psychology, peer work, counselling, or demonstrated experience in a similar role.
• Strong communication and engagement skills, with the ability to build rapport with young people and families or carers, particularly over the phone.
• Ability to conduct brief phone-based screening and intake assessments, asking clear questions to understand concerns, support needs and risks.
• Understanding of mental health, wellbeing and psychosocial needs of young people.

Responsibilities

• Conduct brief phone screeners as the first step in intake process.
• Gather information about mental health, wellbeing, psychosocial needs, and risks.
• Provide triage and referral support; coordinate internal/external services.
• Follow up with young people for monitoring and safety planning.
• Provide short-term counselling, care coordination, psychoeducation, and outreach as needed.

Skills

Phone intake

Mental health screening

Phone communication

Care coordination

Education

Youth work / Social work qualification (or in progress)

Job description

Youth Access Worker - headspace Canberra

This is a temporary part time role (30 hpw) up to 20 June 2028 with a possibility of extension based on funding.

As a Youth Access Worker, you will often be the first person a young person or their family speaks with when reaching out to headspace Canberra. You will create a welcoming, respectful and supportive experience while helping young people access the right care at the right time.

A major part of the role involves completing brief phone screeners as the first step in our intake process. Through these initial conversations, you will gather information about the young person’s mental health, wellbeing, psychosocial needs and current risks, provide triage and referral support, and coordinate appropriate internal or external services. You will also follow up with young people where additional monitoring is required and contribute to safety and wellbeing planning.

Alongside intake responsibilities, you may provide short-term, person-centred counselling, care coordination, psychoeducation, therapeutic group activities and outreach support.

Along with a genuine passion for supporting young people, you will be someone who is confident communicating over the phone, organised, efficient and comfortable working within structured intake and assessment processes.

• A positive work culture by offering flexible work arrangements that support your wellbeing
• Ongoing professional development and supervision
• Increase your take home pay by salary packaging up to $15,900 + $2,650 meals and entertainment
• GPH Staff Conference
• Employer paid parental leave on top of the government PPL Scheme
• Free and confidential Employee Assistance Program

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Qualifications, or be working towards qualifications, in a relevant field such as youth work, social work, mental health nursing, psychology, peer work, occupational therapy or counselling, or demonstrated experience in a similar role.
• Strong communication and engagement skills, with the ability to build rapport with young people and their families or carers, particularly over the phone.
• The confidence to conduct brief phone-based screening and intake assessments, asking clear and appropriate questions to understand presenting concerns, support needs and potential risks.
• An understanding of the mental health, wellbeing and psychosocial needs of young people, including young people experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns.
• The ability to assess and screen young people to determine their care needs and help connect them with appropriate internal and external supports.

Importantly, you don't need to know everything on day one. We are looking for someone who can connect well with young people, is comfortable spending a significant part of their day on the phone, can work efficiently within clear processes, and is keen to develop your skills as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team.

Applications close: 19 November 2026. Shortlisting will begin prior to the closing date.

We welcome applications from people with lived experience, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, LGBTQIA+ communities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and people with disability.